Former NDP MP Peter Stoffer apologizes after three women accuse him of inappropriate behaviour on Parliament Hill

'Everybody knows I'm a hugger and I'm a touchy person in this regard,' Stoffer said

Former federal MP Peter Stoffer talks to reporters to address sexual harassment allegations in Halifax on Friday, Feb. 9, 2018. Stoffer denied the claims but apologized for actions that might have been interpreted as inappropriate.Andrew Vaughan / THE CANADIAN PRESS

Former NDP MP Peter Stoffer apologized Friday after the National Post revealed accusations by three women of inappropriate sexual behaviour.

Speaking in Halifax, Stoffer said he’s never sexually assaulted or physically assaulted anyone. Stoffer, who was the MP for Sackville-Preston-Chezzetcook, called himself a “gregarious” and “fun” person, however, and apologized to anyone who felt uncomfortable around him.

“Everybody knows I’m a hugger and I’m a touchy person in this regard,” Stoffer said. “If anyone feels those actions were untoward, I regrettably apologize.”

On Thursday, Stoffer vehemently denied the allegations, telling the Post that he didn’t recall any of the alleged incidents and offered no apology.

His stance appeared to soften Friday after NDP leader Jagmeet Singh released a statement saying he was “deeply disturbed” by the allegations and that the party’s harassment policies “were insufficient and failed to appropriately deal with this behaviour.”

NDP MP Peter Stoffer in 2014.Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press/File

“It is obvious, by some of the comments that I’ve heard recently from some people from the past, they’re saying that some of my demeanour, some of my comments were inappropriate. And for that I humbly apologize without reservation,” said Stoffer, who said he grew up with the humour of Canadian comedy duo Maclean & Maclean and Rodney Dangerfield.

The Post reported Thursday on three women who independently said Stoffer’s behaviour was inappropriate with them. Former NDP staffer Lauren Dobson-Hughes said that Stoffer groped her waist and “kissed me so hard right on my cheek near my mouth that it left saliva drooling down my cheek.”

Another woman, who spoke on the condition her name not be used, said she was volunteering for an NDP MP when she attended a party in Ottawa. The woman said Stoffer, who was there with his date, linked arms with the two women and told the volunteer: “You want to have a threesome with us, don’t you?”

When she tried to unlink her arm from his, she said Stoffer tightened his grip and said: “Oh come on, don’t be a bitch.”

It is obvious, by some of the comments that I’ve heard recently from some people from the past, they’re saying that some of my demeanour, some of my comments were inappropriate

A current NDP staffer said she visited Stoffer’s office in 2014 to find him playing pool. According to the staffer, Stoffer suggested she sit on the edge of the pool table to distract his opponent. “I felt dirty and cheap and really gross after that comment, and I just left,” she said.

The former MP spent a significant a significant amount of time at his press conference describing Parliament Hill as a “pretty dry and toxic environment” when he first arrived in 1997 because the parties didn’t co-exist and there were a lack of clubs and social gatherings. Stoffer said he helped organize a Christmas party — “the all-party party” — and an all-party soccer club. As a result, his office has had an “open door policy.”

“Everybody knows that the office I had was what I would call a fun office,” Stoffer said. “A lot of people could come and play a game of pool or have a cold one. They could play some darts. They could just come in and release the tension.”

Stoffer, who lost his seat in the 2015 election after 18 years at Parliament Hill said Friday he had spoken to representatives from the party and told them he would no longer be going to conventions.